So GoodApril/May 2008 Issue

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Food Allergy Awareness Milestones

This year as spring unfolds, I’m reminded that life is full of milestones – another graduation in the family, another wedding, another big birthday. Those of us with food allergies or sensitivities share other kinds of benchmarks: the day of our first major reaction, the day we were diagnosed, the first time we finally felt that we controlled our condition versus it controlling us.

TIP: Montina is available at www.amazinggrains.com. Mesquite flour is available at www.casadefruta.com. Gluten-free oats are available at www.bobsredmill.com.

In the 1990s when I was diagnosed with celiac disease and went gluten free, I lived on dry rice cakes and wheat-free corn bread. If I dined out, I ordered a plain hamburger patty or grilled fish and baked potato. The only way to get any product variety was to order by mail.

But the past ten years have seen major milestones in the allergy-free food arena. For those of us with a gluten intolerance, it’s been a virtual gluten revolution. Today, I can easily find gluten-free bagels, English muffins, pizza, granola bars, ravioli. Just about anything I want is available gluten free. My grocery store devotes an entire section to gluten-free and dairy-free foods. When I visit most restaurants, the waiters don’t even flinch when I mention my dietary restrictions.

Two of the current darlings of alternative flours—mesquite and Montina —pack the most fiber. Fiber offers real health benefits, especially for people with blood sugar issues and high cholesterol. Mesquite flour, made from the mesquite tree, contains a whopping 46.1 grams of fiber per cup. Montina, also known as Indian rice grass, isn’t far behind with 36 grams. Here’s a snack bar I developed in celebration of this happy trend. It contains Montina, mesquite flour and gluten-free oats, another fiber-rich newcomer to the special diet scene.

So enjoy! There’s never been a healthier time to eat gluten free.

Milestone Snack Bars

MAKES 24 BARS

Here’s a wholesome bar that’s packed with fiber and nutrients. Enjoy it as a quick breakfast food or snack.